Butterfly Timo Boll ALC vs Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit: Which Should You Buy?
| Butterfly Timo Boll ALC | Butterfly Timo Boll Spirit | |
|---|---|---|
| Our rating | 9.0/10 | 9.0/10 |
| feel | medium | Medium and offensive with notable flex and long dwell, crisp but forgiving for a carbon blade |
| handle | FL/ST/AN | FL / ST / AN |
| plies | 5W+2 Arylate-Carbon | 5 wood plies plus 2 arylate-carbon outer layers (5W and 2 ALC) |
| speed | OFF | OFF |
| thickness_mm | 5.8 | 5.7 |
| weight_g | 86 | 87 |
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Both blades share the same 5-wood plus 2 arylate-carbon recipe, an OFF rating and a near-identical thickness, so the real difference is feel. The ALC plays solid and consistent, with little vibration but a face that behaves like one big sweet spot. The Spirit is softer and more forgiving, with notable flex and a longer dwell that makes heavy, controllable topspin easier to draw out.
Pick the Timo Boll ALC if you want a balanced, high-spin main blade that stays crisp and quiet under power and rewards a developed, active stroke. Its strength is from mid-distance to away from the table, where it is a famously good match with Tenergy 05.
Choose the Spirit if you want a touch more feedback and a gentler, looping-friendly touch for blocking and counterplay. Both carry a premium price and both are genuinely fast, so neither suits a passive or still-developing player. Tied on rating, the decision comes down to whether you prefer the ALC’s solidity or the Spirit’s softer dwell.
FAQ
Which one is more forgiving?
The Timo Boll Spirit. It is softer with more flex and longer dwell, giving more feedback and a gentler touch for blocking and control, while the ALC plays solid and quiet.
Are they the same speed?
Effectively yes. Both are OFF-rated arylate-carbon blades with nearly identical thickness and weight, so the difference is in feel rather than raw pace.
Which suits an attacker who plays away from the table?
The Timo Boll ALC shines from mid-distance to away from the table and pairs famously well with Tenergy 05, making it the pick for that style.
Is either good for an improving player?
Both are genuinely fast OFF blades that reward sound technique. The Spirit gives slightly more feedback, but neither forgives a passive stroke, so they suit intermediate to advanced players.